Summary

Our perennial favorite, AAdvantage's earning and redeeming policies make it the best of the Big Three US frequent flyer programs. While a devaluation is in store for 2016, it remains one of the better options for US travelers.

Pros

Earn miles based on miles flown

Some of the best partner business and first-class awards in the business

Summary

Fresh off a recent switch to a revenue-based redeemable-miles earning system, MileagePlus is not nearly as generous of a program as it once was. Reasonable economy and business-class saver fares (kind of) make up for it.

Summary

Called SkyPesos for a reason, SkyMiles doesn't make it easy to get good value from your points, plus its revenue-based mile-earning system makes it all but impossible for casual flyers to accrue useful a useful for the program.